Which alkali metal is most reactive?
Understand the Problem
The question is asking to identify the alkali metal that has the highest reactivity. The reactivity of alkali metals generally increases down the group in the periodic table, with cesium being the most reactive.
Answer
Francium (Fr), with cesium (Cs) as a practical alternative.
Francium (Fr) is the most reactive alkali metal, but it is rare and has a short half-life. In practice, cesium (Cs) is often considered the most reactive alkali metal.
Answer for screen readers
Francium (Fr) is the most reactive alkali metal, but it is rare and has a short half-life. In practice, cesium (Cs) is often considered the most reactive alkali metal.
More Information
Francium is theoretically the most reactive but rare and radioactive, making cesium more frequently cited as the most reactive alkali metal in practical situations.
Tips
A common mistake is to assume reactivity based solely on theoretical values without considering practical availability and stability.
Sources
- The web page with info on - Hydrogen and Alkali Metals - flexbooks.ck12.org
- What is the most reactive alkali metal? - Socratic - socratic.org
- Alkali metal - Wikipedia - en.wikipedia.org
